Walsh withdraws, backs DiMaso

Five minutes into the second ballot voting, Howell Mayor Bob Walsh withdrew his candidacy and requested that the convention support Serena DiMaso.

Freeholder-elect for a minute Serena DiMaso is about to be sworn in by County Clerk Claire French.

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First Ballot Results

County Clerk Claire French, right, Hedra Siskel, Supt of Elections, center and Bertha Sumick, Deputy Clerk of Elections, double check the tally

Serena DiMaso: 243

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Nominations and Voting

Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella nominated Howell Mayor Bob Walsh.

Manalapan Municipal Chairman Steve McEnry nominated Manalapan Committeeman Ryan Green.

Former Assemblyman Steve Corodemus nominated Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle.

Senator Jennifer Beck nominated Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso.

The voting has begun.

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We have a quorum

Colts Neck- The majority of Monmouth County Republican County Committe members are present at Colts Neck High School for the Title 19 convention to elect Assemblyman Rob Clifton’s replacement on the Board of Freeholders.

Chairman Joe Oxley announced that there are “at least” 487 comittee members present.  386 would have been a quorum.

We will have a new Freeholder today.

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Adam Geller: Menendez is Corzine like vulnerable

Prominent Republican pollster and FoxNews analyst Adam Geller says that today’s FDU poll which has U.S. Senator Robert Menendez beating either Republican State Senator Joe Kyrillos or former Highlands Mayor Anna Little by a 43%-31%, is very bad news for Menendez.

In a memo to the Kyrillos for Senate Exploritory Committee obtained by MMM Geller said:

The takeaway from today’s FDU poll is Bob Menendez is very vulnerable and this is a real opportunity for a good candidate to defeat him. Any incumbent under 50% is in trouble and Menendez is under 45%, which means he is in major trouble.  That is Jon Corzine territory

Joe Kyrillos, even though not yet a candidate, would make a very strong opponent for Menendez because of his personal and fundraising base and his consistently strong fiscally conservative voting record in New Jersey.

I would also note that only 28% of voters think the country is headed in the right direction. That is a terrible number for an incumbent arguing that he ought to be re-elected. 

The bottom line of this poll is that if Joe Kyrillos were to jump into this race, Bob Menendez is in serious trouble.
 

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Ryan Green Takes A Shot At Holmdel Township Committee

Serena DiMaso fires back

Manalapan Township Committee Member Ryan Green, a candidate for Freeholder in tomorrow’s Title 19 election, has taken the gloves off in what until now has been a clean and collegial intra-party contest.

Green issued a press release late last night criticizing the Holmdel Township Committee for considering selling land, including land purchased with Green Acres dollars, to close a budget deficit.  Green based his criticism upon a January 6 article in the Holmdel Patch.

Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso is competing with Green, along with Howell Mayor Bob Walsh and Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle for the freeholder seat vacated by Assemblyman Rob Clifton.

“To learn that the Holmdel Township Committee would consider selling one of our most valued resources in Monmouth County, open space, is very disappointing. I have a strong record of preserving open space, as I believe it improves our quality of life. I will never support selling any of it,” Green said.

Green said he believes very strongly that when governing bodies purchase land, especially with Green Acres funding, it should be maintained as open space. He said he has been a leader in preserving open space in Manalapan since joining the Township Committee.

He is also concerned that selling land, as the Holmdel Township Committee is considering doing, is a short-term solution to address Holmdel’s looming budget deficit.

“In order to address budget deficits, we need long-term solutions. We need to prioritize what services are being provided, reduce spending, and find new shared services agreements that can save taxpayer dollars. Once that land is sold, it’s unlikely that Monmouth County will ever get it back,” Green stated.

DiMaso shot back, “If  we sell, it would be 10 acres of a 400 acre facility to a soccer academy. It will be deed restricted for recreational use, so it will remain open space, and its use will not change. The sale will have Green Acres approval.”

“The Plum Lane property that Ryan ‘read’ about was not purchased with Green Acres money. It was donated to the Township and is surplus land.”

“If Ryan wanted to engage in a genuine debate about open space, why wait until the 11th hour with a press release? I saw Ryan on the campaign trail three times this week. He has my number and my email. He could have brought this up anytime. This type of last minute distortion is very disappointing coming from a so called Republican. Maybe Ryan’s ambition and NJEA DNA is more dominant in his character than his status as a Republican, especially one who promised to run a positive campaign.  If he broke this promise to a fellow Republican, what promises will he break to the Monmouth County taxpayer? ”

Update from Ryan Green:

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Walsh Campaign Announces Endorsements From Singer, Kean and Rible

Howell Mayor Bob Walsh announced today that the 30th legislative district team of Senator Bob Singer, Assemblyman Sean Kean and Assemblyman Dave Rible have endorsed his candidacy for Freeholder.

The announcement can be viewed here.

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Curley will not endorse a Freeholder candidate

Freeholder Director John Curley is not taking sides in the campaign for Assemblyman Rob Clifton’s seat on the county governing body which will conclude on Saturday with the Title 19 convention of Republican County Committee members at Colts Neck High School.

“We have four very strong, smart and articulate candidates,” said Curley, ” I will be proud to serve with and run with whoever the party gives me on Saturday.” 

The successful candidate on Saturday can be sworn in as Freeholder upon resigning from their current office.  The new freeholder and Curley will be the presumptive GOP nominees for this fall’s election.

Curley said he expected the election to be a close contest to Holmdel  Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso and Howell Mayor Bob Walsh.   He said he is impressed with both Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle and Manalapan Committeeman Ryan Green, both of whom are making their first bid for county office.  “We’ll be hearing from then again,” he said.

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O’Scanlon’s Legislation Will Stop Local Anti-Medical Marijuana Laws

“These facilities will provide no more of a threat to communities than a CVS, I would have no problem with one being located near my home.” ~ Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

Saying, “It’s the right thing to do,” Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon told MMM that he will introduce legislation that will prevent municipalities from from using zoning ordinances to thwart state approved medical marijuana farms and dispensaries from being located within their boundaries.

“Communities fears about medical marijuana facilities are not justified by the facts,” said O’Scanlon, ” as a result, many patients are continuing to suffer needlessly. It’s time for that nonsense to stop.”

O’Scanlon’s bill will empower municipalities to approve the facilities safety plan,  including a requirement of 27/7 manned security.

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Morrell and DiBella Endorse Walsh For Freeholder

Former Howell Township Mayors Harvey Morrell, JR and Joseph DiBella have sent a joint letter to members of the Howel municipal Republican committee urging them to vote for current Mayor Bob Walsh in Saturday’s Freeholder election.

In there letter address to “Fellow Howell Republicans” Morrell and DiBella emphasis the “historic opportunity” of  Howell having its first ever freeholder.

The mayors emphasise the demands of Howell Township and how that prepares one to be a freeholder on “day one.”  They praise Walsh’s conservative Republican credentials, his high moral character and ethical fabric.

A copy of their letter can be downloaded here.

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